Postponed Tokyo Olympics to Cost Extra $2.4 Billion: Organizers

Sports

December 4th, 9:18am

Asharq Al-Awsat

The Tokyo Olympics were delayed for a year | Photo: AFP

The coronavirus-delayed Tokyo Olympics will cost at least an extra $2.4 billion, organizers said Friday, with the unprecedented postponement and a raft of pandemic health measures ballooning an already outsized budget. Tokyo 2020 said an additional $1.5 billion would be needed for operational costs related to the delay, with another $900 million in spending on coronavirus countermeasures for the Games next year. The dollar figure is calculated at an exchange rate of 107 yen, and is closer to $2.56 billion when calculated at today's rate. The costs could rise further, with Tokyo 2020 saying it will release an additional $250 million in "contingency" funds to help cover the expenses. The extra costs come as organizers and Olympic officials work to build enthusiasm and momentum for the first Games postponed in peacetime, insisting that the massive international event can go ahead next year even if the pandemic is not under control. But more spending could further harden public opinion in Japan, where polls earlier this year showed a majority of people think the Games should be postponed again or canceled together. The additional costs will be split between the national government, the city of Tokyo and the organizers.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2663771/postponed-tokyo-olympics-cost-extra-24-billion-organizers